![]() |
Digital Switchover advertisement in Portmadog, Wales. When this photo was taken, the start of digital switchover was about a month away (stage 1, when BBC 2 analogue disappears, would be on 21 October 2009) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Judgement Day 18th April 2012
I have blogged before about old technology, saying goodbye to VHS.
Well, it’s that day at last.
The day when the last region of the UK is switched over to digital TV and the old analogue signal is switched off for good.
Gone. Dead. Finito. (A small tear drips from my eye)
What you may not have realised though is that the old teletext services such as CEEFAX also go with it.
That may not mean much to you, but for a small army of people (including my wife), the analogue text was their preferred way of finding out what was going on in the world of news and entertainment.
Textual Healing
Sure there is now digital text to help fill the gulf.
Yes, it looks clearer, is easier to navigate and can do clever things such as keep the TV picture on on side while you read through your favourite page.
But it’s not the same.
You don’t get a full screen reading experience and it doesn’t have that warm, slightly fuzzy look to it anymore.
It felt …well, comfortable and it stayed the same for years on end.
Oh well, the future is at least pretty and it is clever (does that make it “pretty clever”?).
I hope that they do new things with it and update it from time to time!
It would be so boring if in 20 years time the digital text was the same as it is today – just repeating the analogue pattern.
Digitalis
So goodbye analogue telly, and goodbye analogue text.
We’ll miss you and (some of us) will look back on you with fondness!
Hello to the new all-digital age!
If you’re in the London TV region, don’t forget to retune your TV (or set top box) today and any other attached devices that use a digital tuner.
For more information about retuning check out Digital UK.
Also, the fine people over at AV Forums may be able to help you if you have problems.
If you liked this post, you may also like my posts on VHS and Alternatives to VHS.
See you next time!
Have something to say? Why not leave a comment below?
Feedback gratefully received!
Well congratulations: you are the first person to leave a comment on my blog!
Ceefax holidays hey?
I always looked at them, but I don't think I know anyone who actually booked one from there.
The end of Ceefax . . . how we thought it was great to be able to find a holiday from the tv . . after 500 pages had turned over.. the end of a era for sure though!!